Gov. Mike Pence's deputy chief of staff, Marilee Springer, is leaving the administration to return to private law practice.

The announcement comes about six weeks after his chief of staff, Bill Smith, resigned to start a political consulting firm, with Pence as his client.

Smith was replaced in mid-May with Jim Atterholt, a former chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and former state legislator. Previously, he was the state insurance commission for about four years.

Springer joined Pence's administration when he took office in January 2013 to lead his policy team. She made a six-month commitment at the time, with the intent of returning to private practice last summer, said a release from Pence's office. She agreed to extend her service for another year.

"Marilee has served as a key policy advisor, led my administration's efforts on education issues and provided oversight and management of my executive agencies and boards and commissions," said Pence.

Springer said serving in the Pence administration has been "the greatest privilege of my professional career."

She intends to resume her position as a partner at Ice Miller LLP, where she was a lawyer for 16 years. Her move back to the firm is pending receiving clearance from the state's Ethics Commission.